City Commissioner Homer Butler on Friday outlined plans for improvement of the Marion Fire Department co-incident with the purchase of the new fire truck which will undergo its official test at the Marion Water Company’s North Madison Street plant Monday at 10 a.m. In addition to the purchase of the new truck, a number of other changes are being made at the Fire Department, Commissioner Butler said. The first improvement was the alteration of the interior of the fire department building to make room for two trucks. Although Marion has had two trucks since 1935, the older of the two trucks in service since that time has been stored in a commercial garage outside the fire department. The fact that the garage was closed at night made the truck stored there unavailable at night without delay. The present fire department building is not large enough for two trucks to be placed in it side by side, but by lengthening the main room of the fire station, the two trucks can be accommodated, one behind the other. A further improvement in the operation of the fire department, according to the commissioner, will be effected when accommodations are arranged in the fire station for volunteer firemen to stay at the station at night. As an economy measure, several years ago, living quarters were established in the crowded fire department for the fire chief and his wife. Since Fire Chief Orlie Ing took over the department the custom of having the fire chief at the station has been followed. As a matter of economy, this practice enabled the fire chief to be on duty 24 hours a day. After July 1, however, the fire chief will live outside the fire department, and the living quarters there will be used for the accommodation of firemen on duty.

(Extracted from local newspapers and compiled by Harry Boyd, posted at http://www.marionfire.us )